Trustees Fund Building Projects, Discuss Campaign

By Jack Dunn Director of Public Affairs

The Board of Trustees unanimously approved $10.1 million for capital building and renovation projects and $12.4 million in capital equipment expenditures at its Dec. 7 meeting.

The monies allocated for capital building and renovations will continue to fund a variety of ongoing projects, including the Lower Campus Office Building, the second phase of the Upper Campus residence hall renovation project that will add approximately 130 additional beds by next August, and a new residence hall planned for Lower Campus.

Funding for capital equipment will be used primarily for information technology systems purchases and upgrades, and updates on miscellaneous equipment.

In his report, University President William P. Leahy, SJ, announced the formation of a Boston College Technology Council, modeled after the successful Wall Street Council, that will gather prominent graduates in the technology field to assist advancement efforts for the University and provide networking opportunities for alumni and students. The council will be chaired by Trustee Peter Bell '86, chairman and CEO of Storage Networks Inc., and Daniel Nova '83, chairman of Highland Capital Partners.

Fr. Leahy updated the trustees on the searches for a new vice president for information technology, vice president for development and associate vice president for government and community affairs. He also made a series of observations to the board about leadership, academic affairs, campus culture, fundraising, finances and facilities, based on his first five years as president.

Fr. Leahy also announced that the Boston College football team had accepted an invitation to play the University of Georgia in the Music City Bowl in Nashville on Dec. 28 [see related story].

Academic Vice President and Dean of Faculties John Neuhauser, reporting for the trustees' Academic Affairs Committee Chairman Thomas A. Vanderslice, said that BC had received 4,350 early action applications this year, an increase of 16 percent over last year. The applicants comprised the University's strongest pool to date, with average SAT scores of 1385-1390.

John M. Connors Jr., co-chairman of the "Ever to Excel" Capital Campaign announced that the campaign had raised $326 million, or 81.5 percent of its $400 million goal. The total included 66 gifts of $1 million or more.